Suicidal behaviour is one of the most relevant public health problems and it is associated with a significant disability and psychosocial impairment. Affective temperaments, hopelessness, suicidal ideation, and suicide intent may be significantly involved in suicidal behaviour.

The present study explored the complex relation between these clinical variables and suicide.

We aimed to evaluate the specific role of affective temperaments and other risk factors as potential predictors of suicide risk.

The sample included 276 patients (19.9% men, 81.1% women; mean age: 48.1 years, SD:16.9), of which most with major affective disorders, who were admitted at the Psychiatric Unit of the University of Genoa (Italy). All participants have been evaluated using the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa and San Diego Auto-questionnaire (TEMPS-a), Beck Hopelessness scale (BHS), Scale for Suicide Ideation (SSI), and Intent Score Scale (ISS).

Patients with anxious temperament significantly differ in terms of residual interepisodic symptoms, substances abuse, adherence to treatment, and current episode duration when compared with those having other affective temperaments. Only suicidal ideation and irritable temperament resulted significant predictors of suicide preparation. In addition, suicidal ideation and prior suicide attempts represent significant predictors of suicide intent.

The present findings suggest the importance of systematic evaluation for suicidal behaviour that may allow clinicians to identify patients at higher suicide risk. As these data may be influenced by the severity of the psychopathological conditions and psychiatric medications, which were used during admission by our patients, further additional studies are needed to test these preliminary findings.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.